Container for cigarettes and matches



April 1953 D. v. BRANDT ET AL CONTAINER FOR CIGARETTES AND MATCHES Filed Aug. 30, 1951 INVENTORS DON/41D 1 E/P/M/OT A T TORA/E' Y Patented Apr. 14, 1953 CONTAINER FOR CIGARETTES AND MAT CHES

Donald V. Brandt, Jamaica, and Sterling R. Cheek, Jackson Heights, N. Y.

Application August 30, 1951, Serial No. 244,392

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a container for cigarettes and matches.

The container to which the present invention relates is adapted to receive and accommodate a package of cigarettes such as a conventional package of Camels, Chesterfields or Lucky Strikes. It is also adapted to accommodate two groups of attached matches of the type commonly known as book matches. The package of cigarettes is inserted into the container by the ultimate consumer. The matches are inserted into the container by the manufacturer of the container and the container is turned over to the ultimate consumer with the matches attached thereto. The cigarettes and the matches may be individually dispensed from the container in much the same manner as individual cigarettes are dispensed from a conventional package of cigarettes and individual matches are dispensed from a conventional package of book matches. The container has a match-striking pad affixed or applied thereto and the matches which are dispensed from said container may be struck on said striking pad.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a cigarette and match container of the character described, which may be distributed or sold at cigar and cigarette counters in the place and stead of conventional packages of book matches. The container herein claimed constitutes, in effect, a package of book matches which may be dispensed therefrom and struck thereon in substantially the same manner as book matches. But the container constituting the present invention performs an additional function which is equally as useful, namely, that of protecting the cigarettes against damage or injury resulting from crushing or exposure to perspiration.

The cigarette and match container constituting the present invention is made of paper of the general type used in making book match covers but this type of paper is merely illustrative of the many types which may be employed for the purposes of this invention. The present container is intended to be disposable in the sense that packages of book matches are disposable. The cost of the present container will exceed only slightly the cost of a conventional package of book matches. Hence, it may be distributed free with each purchase of a package of cigarettes or it may be sold at cigar and cigarette counters for a nominal sum, say, half -a-cent per container. The container herein claimed is intended to be used for advertising purposes in the same manner that book matches are used for advertising purposes and the advertising revenue is expected to cancel out a major part, if not all, of the actual cost of the container.

Other important features of this invention may be described as follows:

1. One important feature is the fact that the container herein claimed holds the matches and the cigarettes together. This is in contradistinction to the present practice of having the cigarettes in one package and the matches in a separate package.

2. Another important feature is the fact that the container herein claimed may be filled with cigarettes without the necessity of having to handle each cigarette individually. It is the present practice with respect to cigarette cases, that the cigarette must first be removed from the container in which it is sold before inserting into the cigarette case.

3. A third important feature is the absence of top and bottom walls on the container herein claimed. It is for this reason that the container may be shipped in flat or collapsed state so as to avoid the use of undue and unnecessary, but nonetheless quite expensive, storage and shipping space.

A preferred form of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette and match container made in accordance with the present invention, showing it accommodating a plurality of book matches and a package of cigarettes.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same cigarette and match container, but showing it without any cigarettes or matches contained therein.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through said container, on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, but showing matches mounted in said container.

Fig. 4 is a top view looking downwardly in the direction of arrows 4, 4 of Fig. 2, also showing matches mounted in said container.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a blank out of which the container is made.

Fig. 6 is an end view of a container, similar to the container shown in the first five figures of the drawing, but showing it slightly tapered so as to provide a wedging fit of the package of cigarettes in said container. The taper is exaggerated for purposes of clarity.

The cigarette and match container H] which is best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, is made from a blank [2 shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing. It has a front panel M, a back panel I6, and two side panels IB and 20 respectively. It has no top and bottom panels, however, and instead it is open both at the top and at the bottom. The distance between the side panels of the container corresponds substantially, to the width of a conventional package 22 of cigarettes. The distance between the front and back panels of the container corresponds, substantially, to the thickness of said package of cigarettes. Hence, the package of cigarettes may be inserted into said container and the snug fit between the walls or panels of said container and the package of cigarettes will prevent said package of cigarettes from accidentally slipping out of said container.

The four panels or walls of container 16 are substantially rectangular in shape, and that, of course, is also true of the four front, back and side walls of the package of cigarettes. But cigarette and match container 24 shown in Fig. 6 is provided with at least one pair of oppositely disposed panels or walls, whose side edges taper or converge inwardly and downwardly. This modified form of container is shown in Fig. 6 to have a tapered side Wall 26 and it will be understood that its opposite side wall is also tapered to the same extent and in the same direction. The front and back walls or panels of container 24 are not shown, but they may be rectangular like the front and back panels or walls of container ID or they may be tapered like side panel 26 of container 24. Stated differently, the side panels of the present container may be rectangular, or tapered and the front and back panels may also be either rectangular or tapered, depending upon the preferences of the designer and manufacturer of the container. The container may be tapered either from a relatively wide top opening to a relatively narrow bottom opening or froma relatively Wide bottom opening to-a relatively narrow top opening.

.It will be noted that a pair of aligned horizontal slits 28 and 36 respectively are formed in the front wall or panel it of the container. A pair of diagonal slits 32 and 36 respectively extend downwardly and convergingly from the near end of slits 28 and 36. Similarly, horizontal slits 36 and 3,8 and diagonal slits 4i! and 32 are formed in the back wall or panel l6 of the container. Above horizontal slits 28 and 3B is a long horizontal slit i4 .and ,a similar slit 461s formed above horizontal slits 36 and .36. These slits 23 to 46 inclusive are all shown in Fig. 2, wherein the container is set up for use and they are also shown in blank 2,Fig. 5.

It is these slits which accommodate matches 48. It will be understood that each group of matches, and there are two groups, one for the front of the containerand the other for the back of the container, consists of a plurality of individual matches which are integral with each other along their lower ends. Afiixed to the lower, connected ends of each group of matches, is a .bar 50 which may be fastened thereto by means of an adhesive or a staple or by any other suitable fastening means. The matches extend vertically of the container and bar 512 extends horizontally thereof. Both the matches and the bar may be made of suitable cardboard or paste board ,of the kind conventionally used in making book matches.

It will be seen in Figs. '1, 3 and e, that one group of matches, designated as the front package of matches 52, is .slidably mounted in the slits formed in the front wall or panel [4 of the container, and that the second group of matches, designated as the back package of matches 54, is 'slidably mounted in the slits formed in the back wall or panel N5 of the container. The heads 55 of the matches project through and above horizontal slits 44 and 46. The horizontal bars 50 project through slits 3-2 and 34 in the front panel and slits 40 and 42 in the back panel. The lower ends of said slits 32, 34, 40 and 62 serve as stops for the horizontal bars 50, preventing the horizontal bars, and hence the match packages themselves, from moving downwardly below a predetermined level. This level is indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, showing that when the matchpackages are pushed as far down as they will go, the heads of the matches are disposed between horizontal slits 44 and 46 on the one hand and the top edges of the front and back panels of the container on the other hand. The upper ends of slits 32,34, 30 and 42 also serve as stops to prevent upward movement of horizontal bars 50 above a predetermined level. When the horizontal bars 50 reach this upper level, the matches project upwardly from the container and they may be detached individually for use.

It will be understood from the foregoing that diagonal slits 32, 34, 40 and 42 serveas tracks for horizontal bars '50, enabling them to move upwardlyand thereby to bring the matches into accessible positions, and to move downwardly to bring the matches into what may be described as their storage or inaccessiblepositions. Horizontal slits 4 3 and d6 also serve as guide slits for the matches themselves, enabling the matches to move upwardly into accessible positions and downwardly into inaccessible positions. Horizontal slits 2,8, 36, 36 and 138 serve only as chtrance passages for inserting bars .50 into the diagonal slits 32,34,40 and 42.

It will be noted in Fig. 5 that there are five panels in blank l2, separated from each other by means of folding or score lines. Reading downwardly, there is side panel 18, score line 58, back panel 16, score line 69, side panel '20, score line 62, front panel 14, score line and adhesive panel 66. folded at right angles on all of said score lines, adhesive panel 66 underlies side panel l8 and the adhesive secures said panels together to form the container. Side panel I8 has a match-striking surface 68 'on which the matches may be struck to ignite them.

It will be seen in Fig. 3 that matches 52 and 54 are secured to horizontal bars 50. It will be understood that thesebars may be integral with the matches, if advisable, rather than being separate and independent members afiixed to the matches by means of staples or adhesive orany other suitable fastening means. It .will be further understood that the dimensions of bars .50 are .not critical except that the bars should be substantially as wide as the container o that they may be used as guide bars in the container to guide the upward and downward movement of the matches. Consequently, bars .50 may .extend only part of the way up the matches (as shown in the drawing) or all of the way so .as to extendup to the very top ends of the matches. In such case, it might be advisable to staple the bars to the matches instead of gluing them thereto .as shown in the drawing. The staple would then serve as .a nail catch so that the .user would be able to push the matches upwardly When the container is set up .and'

and into accessible position by means of his fingernail. Also, in the uppermost position, the staple would engage the top edge of slit 44 (or slit 46, as the case may be) so as to serve as a stop to prevent the matches from being pulled out of the container.

We claim:

1. A cigarette and match container, having a front wall, a back wall and two side walls which define a cigarette package receiving compartment between them, a plurality of slits formed in the front wall, one being a long horizontal slit formed a short distance below and parallel to the top edge of said front wall, two of said slits being formed in spaced horizontal alignment with each other a short distance below and parallel to the long horizontal slit, and two of said slits being formed diagonally in said front wall at the near ends of the short horizontal slits and extending downwardly in converging directions, a horizontal bar slidably mounted in said diagonal slits for vertical movement therein, the ends of said bar being adjacent the side walls of said container to prevent horizontal movement thereof, and a fiat open cluster of matches secured to said horizontal bar, said matches being mounted vertically on said horizontal bar and projecting upwardly through the long horizontal slit, whereby said, matches may be elevated to an accessible position for tearing them ofi the bar, by sliding said bar upwardly in said diagonal slits, the ends of said bar being engageable by the top edges of the spaced horizontal slits to limit the upward movement of said bar and thereby to prevent accidental dislodgment of said bar from said diagonal slits in which it is slidably mounted.

2. A cigarette and match container in accordance with claim 1, wherein all of the Walls are made of integrally connected cardboard, each Wall being connected to its adjacent walls along parallel, vertical folding lines.

DONALD V. BRANDT. STERLING R. CHEEK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 893,551 Schmidt July 14, 1908 1,280,277 Naschek Oct. 1, 1918 2,076,137 Wilson Apr. 6, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 216,141 Germany Mar. 18, 1909 340,653 Great Britain Jan. 8, 1931 

